Tim Wing
PART 2:
How to Dig Geoduck
Harvesting the Geoduck for sport and the dinner table.
The geoduck team before the hunt...(note how clean!)
While most people harvest geoduck for sport, it's definitely not a job for the squeamish or the faint-of-heart. Get yourself a pointy shovel and a bucket and be prepared to get very dirty. These giant clams bury themselves at least three feet and often much deeper, in the sand, silt and gravel on the ocean's floor. It goes without saying that a low tide is essential for success. Check the tide tables for your area and go on a minus for best luck.
Once on the beach, watch for the exposed tip of a siphon or maybe a dimple left in the sand from a retracted siphon. Sometimes you'll see a giant geyser of seawater spouting impertinently into the sky. If you see any of these clues - get down, get dirty and get digging.
Kris was by far our best spotter. Once she sees them she's right in there!
In burrowed adults, the neck and siphon may stretch as long as two to three feet in the sea bed. This is a good thing. Contrary to popular belief, a geoduck cannot withdraw its long siphon and neck into its shell since there's no room. And it can't actively dig itself deeper to escape capture since its foot is too small. But what it can do is retract its neck quite rapidly, which makes it seem like the clam is on the run. For a creature with no legs, a geoduck can still appear to "beat feet like there's no tomorrow."
Dig your hole until you can see clam. Then quickly thrust your bare arm into the wet, muddy depths of the unknown darkness while laying your cheek in the mud and willing your arm to grow longer. Are we having fun yet?
Geoduck! Boy, this is fun!
If you get this far, don't give up. Sometimes its necessary to get your whole arm and even shoulder into the hole. Grope around feeling for the clam's neck and siphon. When you feel it, grab hold and begin to gently wiggle it free - take care and don't pull, because the siphon will break. If you do accidentally separate the clam from its shell, be sure to finish digging and take both parts to your bucket. You can get a ticket from the fish police for discarding parts of dismembered clams. Rinse your harvest well with seawater and keep the geoduck wet in your bucket but not immersed in water.
 |
 |
 |
|
The Dream Team Brings Home Seven!
|
||
 |
 |
 |
|
Kris Keeps Looking |
The Neighbors Score Again |
Hooray for the Home Team |
 |
 |
 |
|
At this point it looks like our team is gradually sinking into the mud... Have faith, they are getting closer! |
Kris moves on to spot some more while Mike Boyle from North Bay Mortgage moves in for the final push to victory |
As Fred joins in, Kris can feel the geoducks neck and shell |
 |
 |
 |
|
Neighbors who were on our team score the first point |
Looking for geoduck necks sticking up out of the muck takes patience and a trained eye |
The tide needs to be out... waaaaay out! |
 |
 |
 |
|
Geoduck fighters are tough and mean!
|
The geoduck team before the hunt... notice how clean?
|
Wildlife shellfish rules & regulations. Always respect private property and fill in your holes!
Check out http://www.ecy.wa.gov/programs/sea/pugetsound/species/geoduck.html for more information.
See Part 3 for "How to Prepare Geoducks"
